MR. McCLELLAN: I think you have everything, we put out the
statement on the issue of the British detainees. So you should have
that, as well as a few other statements.

I'm here for your questions.

Q Can you elaborate on the statement? What does it mean,
essentially? That you --

MR. McCLELLAN: It means that it's under discussion between our
legal experts and their legal experts, to determine how we can resolve
this. That's what it means.

Q Is the President considering the option of sending those
detainees back to Great Britain for --

MR. McCLELLAN: The statement said there are a range of options and
we want to discuss it between legal experts.

Q Is that one of the options, though, sending --

MR. McCLELLAN: So I don't want to speculate about what may or may
not be decided. Let's let the legal experts talk about it and then we
can discuss it from there.

Q And about some of the options?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, if we're getting into a discussion like that,
that's starting to speculate about how -- you know, the disposition.
And we need to let the legal experts discuss it first.

We understand the concerns and that's why we're working -- the
British and Australians are close friends and allies and that's why
we're working with them to address this issue.

Q Can you characterize their discussion last night about this
matter?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you pretty much got the characterization in
the statement.

Q Scott, did they discuss -- did the President learn any more from
the Prime Minister about the British intelligence behind the uranium
claim?

MR. McCLELLAN: That was not -- it was my understanding that was not
something that was discussed.

Q They didn't discuss it?

MR. McCLELLAN: They focused on the issues that they addressed last
night, as well as what I had talked about previously, earlier in the
day.

Q They didn't discuss uranium at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: I was told that that did not come up in the
conversation.

Q So throughout the course of the day they never discussed
uranium?

MR. McCLELLAN: I was told it didn't come up during the meetings.
Remember, he was here for a short amount of time. What they focused on
was moving forward on winning the war on terrorism and a number of
other important issues that they're addressing.

Q Some U.N. inspectors found what they believe is enriched uranium
in Iran. What is the administration's reaction? Is that a cause for --

MR. McCLELLAN: I saw the reports. As you are aware, we remain
concerned about a lot of things that Iran is doing, particularly its
pursuit of nuclear weapons. And we believe strongly that Iran needs to
open up to rigorous examination by the IAEA. But at this point -- I've
seen the reports, and our position remains the same.

Q Scott, why did the administration put out all the information
that the senior administration official put out today on the intel --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, well, we always want to share facts with the
American people. And this information was just, as of today, officially
declassified, and it was an opportunity to share with them some
information that showed the clear and compelling case that we had for
confronting the threat that Saddam Hussein posed.

Q Does the White House think that this should end the case, the
discussion? Are we done with this after --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, I think we always welcome the
opportunity to discuss and talk about the safety and security of the
American people. It's the President's highest priority. This was, as I
said, an opportunity to share some important facts with the American
people that had recently become declassified. And that's what we did
earlier today.

Q Did some of the documents that came out undercut some of the
argument, like State Department documents about things being "highly
dubious" and all?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that when you look at the information that
was released, it shows further how clear and compelling this case was
regarding the threat that we faced in Iraq, and that we ended in Iraq.
Saddam Hussein is gone and his regime is no longer a threat of using
these weapons of mass destruction.

Q Why, Scott, was the cable that was -- that derived from the
debriefing of Joe Wilson not included among the declassified
documents?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we always want to share as much information as
we can. There is some classified information that -- well, there's
some information that remains classified for national security reasons.
But we felt that this information -- which is what the State of the
Union statement was originally based on -- was important to share with
the American people, because it could be declassified.

Q When was it actually declassified?

MR. McCLELLAN: It was officially declassified today.

Q Just today?

Q Scott, can you just tell us, why did the President not raise the
subject, at all, of the uranium with Tony Blair, given events going on
--

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think the Prime Minister -- it came up at
the press conference. The Prime Minister made it very clear that he
stood behind that statement. I think you have to take into account that
the British government had additional sources and they made a
commitment not to reveal the additional source that they had. And we
understand that.

But as you see from today, that one statement had -- that one
statement, in and of itself, was by no means the reason that we decided
to act and confront the threat that was posed by the Iraqi regime. The
case was much broader and the evidence was much broader.

And it was clear and compelling evidence, as you see, in the
National Intelligence Estimate, along with the other information that
has previously been disclosed by the United Nations, by the
international community, that Saddam Hussein is someone that possessed
weapons of mass destruction, he showed a willingness to use weapons of
mass destruction in the past against his own people, he was someone who
defied the international community for 12 years. He was someone who
went to great lengths to conceal these weapons of mass destruction. But
he is no longer a threat to the American people.

Q Now that you've put this out, I mean, is the case closed, as far
as the White House is concerned? Is this the end of it, as far as
you're concerned?

MR. McCLELLAN: The end of?

Q The end of the probe looking into it? Is there a need for -- to
look into it further?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that it's -- a lot of information has been
provided to Congress, these questions have been addressed extensively.
And, yes, the issue has been fully addressed.

Q But, Scott, the polls show that as this controversy has raged on,
Bush's approval ratings have dropped, more people believe that they
exaggerated information. Are you hoping by getting more out there you
can stop that slide, their hemorrhaging of support and more doubts of
the American public? From a political point of view, this does not help
the administration.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think it goes back to we welcome the opportunity
to talk about the safety and security of the American people, that this
is the highest priority for the President of the United States, and it
should be for any President of the United States. And I think what you
saw last night from the President and the Prime Minister were some very
strong statements that reminded the American people about the
importance of acting on the dangerous threats we face in the 21st
century, and acting on the new threats we face in the post-September
11th world.

Q Are you worried about the political damage this may have caused
the President?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, we continue to look forward to discussing the
war on terrorism, because of how important it is to the long-term
security of America and the safety and security of the American people.
This is about confronting threats, not ignoring them. This is about
acting on threats that we face before it's too late.

Q Are there any other countries besides the U.K. and Australia to
which the President would even consider sending detainees from
Guantanamo back for justice in their respective countries?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I don't want to speculate on any of that. I
mean, I think the statement was put forward and that's where things
stand now. And so let's let those discussions happen. And I'm not aware
of any other discussions at this point.

Q Do you think the Democrats are overreaching in some of their
questions they're raising and some of the comments they've made this
last week? Do they risk going so far that they may be out on a limb?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that there are some that do seek political
gain from this issue, whether it's to justify passed opposition to
confronting these dangerous threats we face, or for other reasons. And
like I said, we welcome the opportunity to talk about these issues
involving the safety and security of the American people. It's
important that a President lead and act to address these threats. And
that's exactly what the President of the United States has done.

Q Sharon and Abbas coming in the next couple weeks, what should
Sharon be doing? There are some reports that he should look at
releasing more prisoners, more militants. Do you have any sense of
whether the administration supports him expanding the group that gets
released?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, what we think is important when it comes to
the Middle East is that the parties continue to have an open dialogue,
continue to talk to one another. We've made some progress. There will,
undoubtedly, be difficulties along the road. But we are pleased that
they are working together and trying to move forward on the road map.
The road map lays out the framework under which they are working
together. And we're going to continue -- Ambassador Wolf and others
that are on his staff are going to continue to work with the parties to
make sure that they're meeting their commitments and that they're
moving forward on the road map.

Q -- prisoners?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that what's important is for the
parties to continue talking to each other about these issues, to
continue to find ways forward. And that's what they're doing.

Do you all want the week ahead?

Q What's on the agenda with Berlusconi?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it's what we put out the other day. I'm sure
that the two leaders will continue to -- Prime Minister Berlusconi has
been a great friend and partner in the war on terrorism. And I'm sure
that they will discuss that, among other issues, as well as
trans-Atlantic issues. I'd refer you back to the statement that we put
out previously. As we get closer to the event on Monday, maybe I can
get you some more information.

Q Is this is a reward, also, for his backing on the Iraq war,
bringing him --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that he's long been a friend and partner in
our efforts to confront threats in the post-September 11th world. And
the President looks forward to him coming to Crawford and showing him
around his home.

Q Will the President ask him directly to supply troops on the
ground in Iraq in the peacekeeping effort?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, let's let the meeting take place. But there
are a lot of people that are providing help in a variety of ways. And
Prime Minister Berlusconi has been someone that's been a true friend
throughout our efforts.

Q -- suspect intelligence about the uranium come from Italy
originally? Will that be talked about?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that these leaders -- that leaders like
Prime Minister Blair or Prime Minister Berlusconi, these are
opportunities for us to continue to talk about how -- to continue to
talk about the progress we are making in the war on terrorism, to
continue to talk about the progress we are making in bringing
stability, security and prosperity and democracy to Iraq, which is very
important to a stable and peaceful Middle East. And that will make the
world a much safer place for all people, including the American people.
So that's what's important.

Let me go over the week ahead. You already have from last week the
information on Prime Minister Berlusconi. Monday afternoon, following
the visit with Prime Minister Berlusconi, the President will return to
the White House. And there are no public events. Tuesday there are no
public events to announce. If that changes, we will let you know.

Wednesday the President will meet with the President of Argentina
in the Oval Office. That afternoon he participates in the ceremony for
the 2003 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in the East
Room. Thursday the President will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
where he will make progress -- where he'll make remarks on his jobs and
growth plan. From there the President will travel to Detroit, Michigan,
where he will meet with small business owners before making remarks on
the economy. And that evening the President will attend a Bush Cheney
2004 reception before returning to Washington, D.C.

Friday morning the President will meet with the President of the
Palestinian Authority, which we announced yesterday.

Q Is he coming back that evening?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's back in Washington. And that's all I have.
Thank you, guys. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon. See you this
evening.